Birdwatching season approaches

As we head towards Spring, it's the time when many head outdoors for their favorite past time -- birdwatching -- Here in Northwestern Ohio there are many who consider this more than an occasional hobby in addition to the casual birdwatcher. However, no matter your level of interest, use of the right scopes makes birdwatching easier and more enjoyable. There are a variety of different levels of scopes and binoculars out there, for the beginner and the expert.

How waves go rogue...

This is really more science than business but I thought it was interesting to share since it goes into detail as to how waves can become Rogue waves. Wired did a nice job on the article, part of which:

Until recently, scientists were skeptical that rogue waves even exist, because evidence of them was mostly anecdotal. More often called “freak waves,” these monsters of the sea were confirmed only six years ago by satellite images and extensive studies carried out by MaxWave, a research group funded by the European Commission of studies.

Waves over 100 feet tall have been spotted by oceanographers, scientists and vessel passengers. The highest wave ever recorded was 112 feet tall, spotted in the Pacific by a U.S. Navy tanker in the 1920s. Now, whenever large ships get lost at sea and never return, many are quick to speculate they were victims of rogue waves.

Rogue waves occur in the open ocean in a number of ways. One common cause is when two smaller waves coalesce to produce a very large wave for a short time.

wave_crest“You get waves that add up — smaller waves that constructively interfere and for a short time produce a very large wave,” Washburn said. “When they add up, they can make an extra high crest and an extra deep trough.”

Another way rogue waves propagate is when an ocean wave encounters a very strong current that’s running counter to the direction of the wave, according to Washburn. The Agulhas Current, which flows down the eastern coast of South Africa, is notorious for producing rogue waves.

Killer storm elsewhere just gives us a small taste of snow...

The snow storm that hit here yesterday did not cause many problems for our area, while the roads were a little slippery, the main aspect of the snow here in Toledo was the pretty sight of our seasons first measurable snow. Along with my 13 year old taking advantage of the short time the snow lasted to be able to toss a few snowballs. Today it was long gone and it's not that cold at all compared to yesterday. Other parts of the Northeast did not far so well.

Most people don't have flood insurance...

It's always kind of bothered me that home owner's insurance would cover your home if a tornado took it but not if a flood happened, unless of course you live in an area that is prone to flooding.

Yet, since most people don't have flood insurance, when they are hit with damage from a flood, it ends up being a devastating experience.

Invasion of the Land Crabs!

They're back!!! After disappearing after the hurricanes, the Land Crabs are in mating season and some residents of this small Florida town feel as if they are under invasion. The sad part is watching the video where the land crabs try to avoid being road kill, during breeding season it is illegal to kill and eat them, though it's obvious the crabs don't seem to realize cars don't know that...

Fires, Floods...it's been a bad week weather wise...

Thankfully not record breaking or of biblical warning proportions but it has not been a great week for the US as far as fires, floods and tornadoes...

A three-week-old fire in southern Georgia had become that state's biggest in five decades after charring 167 square miles of forest and swamp.Smoke-filled air created a burning smell and a dusting of ashes that coated cars and buildings through much of Florida and southeastern Georgia. The haze over most of Florida even closed several highways and sent people with breathing problems indoors.

The flooding was produced by the drenching weekend thunderstorms across the Plains states that also devastated Greensburg, Kan. In addition to 11 tornado deaths, two drowning deaths were blamed on the storms, one each in Oklahoma and Kansas.

High water had poured over the tops of at least 20 levees along the Missouri River and other streams in the state, authorities said Wednesday.

Turning monkeys into video game addicts...

I couldn't help think what would happen in my house if we had an orangutan who had been taught to play video games as is being done at the Atlanta Zoo.

Zoo officials hope the exhibit will raise awareness of the rapidly diminishing wild orangutan population, which is on track to completely disappear in the next decade, and potentially provide keys to their survival.

"The more we understand about orangutan's cognitive processes, the more we'll understand about what they need to survive in the wild," said Tara Stoinski, manager of conservation partnerships for the zoo. "It enables us to show the public how smart they are."

Having seen how easily people get addicted to video games, I would not want to be the person that told the monkey it was time to stop as I in humor imagined here in this house the orangutan deciding he was going to play and no one else.

:-)

Google updates New Orleans maps

As an update to an earlier story, CNN is now reporting that Google has updated it's aerial maps of of the New Orleans and surrounding areas to show the current images. Recently Google was accused of "airbrushing history" by Congress and Google claimed this was not the issue, they stated it was an issue related to quality.

Now the images are more closely accurate to what that part of our country and the hurricane damage that is still present is visible.

No rain in Atlanta creates high pollen...

You don't stop and think at times about the connection to the weather and to seasonal allergies but right now in Atlanta they are being hit with one of the worst allergy seasons in years due to a high concentration of yellow pollen from pine trees. The lack of rain has kept the pollen circulating in the air and according to AP News:

Atlanta's pollen count hit 5,499 particles per cubic meter of air Monday, the highest so far this season and the fourth highest in the 12 years that the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic has been keeping records. In South Carolina, the pollen count hit 4,862, according to the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville.

A reading of 120 is considered extremely high in the Southeast.